Mainzvs.Wolfsburg

Die Nullfunfer were defeated at the base of Hoffenheim last time out, whilst Die Wolfe suffered a heartbreaking loss at home versus a resurgent RB Leipzig.

Match preview

After a number of mid-table finishes over recent years, the 2024-25 Mainz crop are on a mission to qualify for UEFA's elite club competition, although Saturday afternoon's hosts have endured a worrying dip in form as the campaign reaches its dramatic conclusion in the Bundesliga.

Die Nullfunfer enjoyed a four-game winning run between February and the beginning of March to rise into the top-four spots, but they have since gone a quartet of fixtures without victory, including a frustrating 2-0 defeat at the home of strugglers Hoffenheim last weekend.

Mainz grabbed more of the possession and shots at PreZero Arena last time out but were unable to breach the net of Oliver Baumann in the Hoffenheim goal, with former Leicester City attacker Andrej Kramaric bagging a first-half brace for the hosts to claim maximum points.

Collecting just two points across their last four top-flight battles, Bo Henriksen's men have dropped down to fifth spot in the Bundesliga standings with five games left to play, two points behind RB Leipzig in the lowest of the Champions League positions at this stage.

Despite their recent struggles in the Bundesliga, Die Nullfunfer have maintained an excellent consistency in front of their own supporters, with Mainz currently in the midst of a 10-game league unbeaten run at MEWA Arena, stretching back to a 2-0 loss to Leipzig in October.

Following three straight mid-table placements at the top table of German football, Wolfsburg appear set for more of the same at the end of the 2024-25 season, with Saturday afternoon's visitors in the middle of their poorest run of the campaign, losing four consecutive matches.

The latest of those defeats arrived at Volkswagen Arena on April 19, when Die Wolfe found themselves three goals behind after just 49 minutes due to a Xavi Simons double and Lois Openda's ninth of the league term, with the Greens only able to net two consolation strikes in the second half.

Last tasting victory on March 1 at Werder Bremen, Ralph Hasenhuttl's men have dropped down to 12th spot in the Bundesliga rankings ahead of this weekend's trip to high-flying Mainz, seven points behind sixth-placed Freiburg, who are set to qualify for the Europa League.

Unusually, Die Wolfe have fared significantly better on the road than at their Volkswagen Arena base this season, with 23 of their 38 top-flight points collected during Bundesliga outings - only Bayer Leverkusen (32), Bayern Munich (31) and Werder Bremen (26) have earned more away points in the division.

Netting on just two occasions across their last four games, Wolfsburg are not in scintillating form in front of goal, as shown by leading marksman Mohamed Amoura, who has not found the net for three matches, although the attacker scored a hat-trick on international duty for Algeria in March.

Mainz 05 Bundesliga form:

W

W

D

L

D

L

Wolfsburg Bundesliga form:

W

D

L

L

L

L

Team News

Seeing red during the final stages of the Hoffenheim defeat last time out, Mainz playmaker Paul Nebel is suspended for the visit of Wolfsburg this weekend.

As a result, Die Nullfunfer will need to find a new face for their attacking-midfield role, with Hyun-Seok Hong a candidate to be promoted from the bench.

There are a number of Mainz stars who are unlikely to feature again this term, including Maxim Leitsch (hip) and left-back Philipp Mwene (hip).

Picking up his fifth yellow card of the league term against Leipzig, Yannick Gerhardt is unable to feature for Wolfsburg at MEWA Arena on Saturday.

Die Wolfe are short on options in their engine room given the continued absences of Croatian Lovro Majer and Swedish midfielder Mattias Svanberg.

Mainz 05 possible starting lineup:

Zentner; Da Costa, Jenz, Kohr; Caci, Sano, Lee, Nordin; Hong, Veratsching, Weiper

Wolfsburg possible starting lineup:

Grabara; Fischer, Vavro, Odogu; Kaminski, Dardai, Arnold, Maehle; Wimmer, Wind, Amoura

We say: Mainz 05 2-1 Wolfsburg

Unbeaten since October at home in the Bundesliga, Mainz should be confident of getting their Champions League charge back on track this weekend.

Written by

Carter White

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